Process of sugar-making.



m). 742,127. 7 PATENTED new. 20, 1903,.

Hi MILLER. PROGBSS 'O F SUGAR MAKING- APPLICATION rum) JUNE 3,1903. 30MODEL. 2 sums-sum 1.

Witnesses: Jwrh'zpfi 7Mz'llw; r Inventor,

16 I v V Attorneys m: Norms wnzns co. PHOTO-LITMO. WASNNGYUN. a. c.

PAT'ENTBD OCT. 20, 1903. M. H. MILLER. I

PROCESS OF SUGAR MAKING.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 3.19%.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.-

nio HODEL.

Witnesses Atto'rneys 7 UNITED STATES Patented October 20, 1903.

MARTIN HOCKER MILLER, OF WIAR'ION, CANADA.

PRooEss oF SUGAR-MAKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Novel-2,127, dated October20, 1903.

Application filed June 3, 1903. Serial No. 15 9,914. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, MARTIN HOOKER MILLER,

a subject of the King of Great Britain,residingat Wiarton, county ofBruce,Province of On' tario, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Processes of Sugar- Making; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertai'ns to make and use the same.

' My invention relates to sugar-making, and concerns itself especiallywith a process for treating and purifying the juices preparatory to thecrystallization of the sugar. The process is especially applicable inthe manufacture of sugar from beet-juice.

The object of the invention is to produce a process for the purposesmentioned which is efficient and economical in separating out from theraw juice albuminous matter and other impurities.

In practice the high efliciency of the process enables molasses to betreated economically, so that sugar may be made from it as well as fromthe raw juice. Heretofore this molasses has been usually discarded bythe sugarmakers, and as it constitutes a by-product of the sugarprocess, being formed in considerable quantities, discarding it in thismanner entails a loss in the output of sugar. During the process thejuice is treated with an electric current, which is passed through thejuice between frames which are agitated within the body of the juice,and at another stage of the process the juice is allowed to drip ortrickle over a metallic frame, which frame constitutes a terminal of anelectric circuit.

The invention consists in the process to be- Throughout thespecification the same numerals of reference denote like parts.

Referring to the parts more particularly, 1

represents a tank intended to receive the raw pear that it consists,substantially, of a cylindrical tank 5, provided with a central verticalhollow shaft 6, within which is mounted an insulated inner shaft 7. Thehollow shaft 6 is provided with insulated openings 8, in which areattached the arms of a vertical frame 9, which frame is provided witha'plurality of vertical strips or wires 10, as indicated. These wiresmay be of platinum, aluminium, or of other metals or combinations ofmetals or materials best suited for the purpose. 11 is carried by thehollow shaft 6 and preferably diametrically opposite to the aforesaidframe 9. This frame is provided with a plurality of wires 12; but theseare substantially horizontal, as shown, instead of vertical. The twoshafts 6 and 7 are suitably carried in a step-bearing 13, and they areinsulated at this point, as shown. The bottom 14. of this separator ispreferably dish-shaped, as shown, and there is provided a steam-coil15,arranged just above the same, as indicated. The upper extremity of-theshaft 7 may be driven continuously through suitable gearing 1.6, and theterminal-wires 17 of an electric circuit connect, respectively, with theinner and outer shafts, as shown, wherefore the juice which is beingtreated within the tank 5 is subjected to the action ofthe'electriccurrent passing between the frames. The purpose of thispeculiar construction is to insure that the molecules of the juice willbe brought into most intimate contact with the surface of the frame, andit should be understood that during the process the shaft 7 is driven sothat it brings this result about. Passing an electric current throughthe raw juice in this manner has the effect of separating out thealbuminous and other foreign matter, which thereupon is precipitated tothe bottom of the tank, as will be readily un- A substantially similarframe derstood, the steam-coil operating to maintain the fluid at aproper high temperature during this process. This result is broughtabout by reason of the peculiar construction of the electrodes and therotation of the same, which causes the products of electrolysis at thesurfaces of said electrodes to be brought into intimate contact with theliquid throughout its mass, and thereby permits chemical reactionshaving the effect of separating out the impurities.

From the tank 4 a pipe 18, which is suitably supplied with a valve 19,conducts the juice to a tank 20, which tank is provided with asteam-coil 21. In this tank the temperatu re of the juices may be raisedfrom 100 to 200. A pipe 22, provided with a suitable valve 23, leadsfrom this point to a pump 24, by means of which the juice is conductedto a filter'press of common construction. After passing through thispress the juices are led to a tank 26 and thence through a pipe 27 tothe second separator 28. The construction of this second separator isbest illustrated in Fig. 3, where it should appear that it comprises asubstantially cylindrical tank 29, in which is placed an immense porouscup 30. The juice from the pipe 27 after passing through a suitablevalve 31 is delivered within this porous cup through the uprightextension 32. This extension 32 carries asleeve 33, upon which aremounted a pluralityof pyramidal frames 34, which are preferablyconstructed of platinum, aluminium, or of other metals or combinationsof metals or ma terials best suited for the purpose. The construction ofthese frames is such as to angment their superficial surface. It shouldappear that this sleeve 33 is suitably insulated from the pipe-section32, as indicated at 35. The extremity of the pipe-section 32 is providedwith a comically-formed nozzle 36, over which the juice is adapted toflow, so that it will be shed in drops or small streams down the frames34 lying below it. While this is taking place an electric current ispassed through the liquid. To this end outside of the cup there areprovided a plurality of electrodes, preferably consisting of sheet-ironmembers 37, immersed in water, as indicated. The terminal-wires 38 of anelectric circuit are attached, respectively, to the sleeve 33 and theelectrodes 37. The said frames 34 are so constructed that they may besubmerged in the juice at the discretion of the operator. The currentpasses in such a direction that the frames 34 constitute anodestherefor. The sheet-iron members may be suitably insulated, as indicatedat 39.

From the tank 29 the juice passes through a suitable valve 40 and thenceby the pipe 41 to a tank 42. Leaving this tank by the pipe connection 43it is raised by the pn mp 44 through a pipe 45 and delivered into a tank46, which tank contains a steam-coil 47. Here the juices are againheated, thence passing through the pipe connection 48 to the branches49, which lead to the mechanical filters 50. From these filters 50 thejuice passes through suitable bran ch-pipe connections 51, connectingwith a main 52, which conducts the juice to a tank 53. From the tank 53the juice passes by a pipe connection 54 to the evaporators 55, throughwhich it passes successively. The juice is treated in these evaporatorsuntil it is raised to a semisyrup or to about 30 Baum.

From the evaporators the juice passes by the pipe 56 to a pump 57, bymeans of which it is raised through a pipe 58 and delivered into a tank59, containing a steam-coil 60. In this tank 59 the juices are treatedwith fumes of sulfur, the apparatus for this purpose comprising a stove61, in which flour of sulfur is burned, a pump 62 being provided forforcing the fumes therefrom through a cooler 63, whence the fumes areled to a perforated coil 64, lying, preferably, near the bottom of thetank 59. The cooler 63 is provided with suitable water circulatingconnections 65. The sulfur fumes find exit through a suitable chimney66, as shown.

From the tank 59 the juices are led through a suitable pipe-main 67, thebranches 68 conducting the juices to mechanical filters 69. From thesefilters the juices pass by the pipe connections 70 to the delivery-tank71. Upon their arrival at this point the juices will have beenthoroughly purified and will then be ready for treatment by any of thecrystallization processes, such as boiling in vacuumpans, the.

The albuminous and foreign precipitates thrown down in the separator 4,described in connection with the foregoing, may be also subjectedsubsequently to my process with advantage. To this end the lowest pointof the dished bottom 14 aforesaid is provided with an outlet-pipe 72,leading these residual juices to a sack-filter 73, from which they findtheir way by the pipe 74 to the tank 75. They may now be treated with myprocess.

As stated above, my process is applicable to the treatment of molasses.This substance is a low-grade juice or icy-product of thecrystallization processes and hitherto has been discarded for purposesof sugar-making and used principally for making alcohol. This molasses,however, should be first diluted substantially to a Baum reading of 10or less, then heated to 180 Fahrenheit, and filtered before introductioninto the rawjuice tank.

It will thus be seen by successively electrolyzing thejuices, filtering,and treating with SO or its equivalent I cause practically each smallportion of the liquid to be subjected to the purifying agencies, so thata thorough separation of impurities results.

While I have described above the exact steps by which my process ispreferably carried out, still it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that these are merely given by way of example and that certainmodifi- FCC IIO

' theyare in motion, discharging the juice over work to again finelysubdivide the same and passing an electric current thereihrough.

2. The method of purifying juice, which consists in rotating beneath thesurface of the same metallic electrodes provided with means for finelysubdividing said juice, passing an electric current between saidelectrodes while they are in motion, then discharging said juice andfiltering the same, and then passing said juice over a metallicframework to again finely subdivide the sameand passing an electriccurrent therethrough.

3. The method of purifying juice, which consists in rotating beneath thesurface of the juice metallic electrodes having means for finelysubdividing the juice, passing an electric current between saidelectrodes while a metallic framework to again finely subdivide thesame, passing an electric current therethrough, and passing sulfurousvapors through said juice.

4:. The method of purifying juice, which consists in rotating beneaththe surface of to again finely subdivide the same, passing an electriccurrent therethrough, and afterward passing sulfurous vapors throughsaid uice.

5. The method of purifying juice, which consists in rotating metallicelectrodes provided with wires, or their equivalents,'substantially atright angles to each other, beneath the surface of the juice, passing anelectric current through said juice while it is in motion, filteringsaid juice thereafter, and passing sulfurous vapors therethrough.

6. The method of purifying raw sugar-j uice, which consists in rotatingmetallic electrodes provided with wires, or their equivalents,substantially at right angles to each other, heneath the surface of thejuice, passing an electric current through said juice while the same isin motion, maintaining the juice at a high temperature meanwhile,filtering said juice, passing sulfurous vapors through said juice, andmaintaining saidjuice at a high temperature while said vapors arepassing therethrough. 7. The method of purifying molasses, whichconsists in diluting the same to substantially 10 Baum, rotating beneaththe surface of such molasses metallic electrodes having means for finelysubdividing the same, passing an electric current between saidelectrodes while they are in motion, filtering the molasses, dischargingthe same over a metallic framework connected in electric circuit toagain finely subdivide the molasses and then passing sulfurous vaporstherethrough.

charging the same over a metallic framework In witness whereof I havehereunto set my.

